The Best Budget Fitness Trackers for Staying Active in 2025

Choosing the Right Budget Fitness Tracker: A Comprehensive Guide

Whether you're starting a fitness journey or seeking deeper workout insights, a fitness tracker can gamify exercise and provide valuable data. Fortunately, many affordable options exist, ranging from feature-rich models comparable to top smartwatches to basic step counters and heart rate monitors. This guide explores several budget-friendly choices for all wrist sizes.

Top Budget Fitness Tracker Picks:

Fitbit Inspire 3: Our Top Pick See it at Amazon

Xiaomi Smart Band 9: Best Ultra-Cheap Option See it at Amazon

Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro: Best Budget Tracker with GPS See it at Amazon

Amazfit Band 7: Best Budget Tracker with Health Monitoring See it at Amazon

Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen): Best Budget Apple Watch See it at Amazon

Garmin Venu 3: Best Budget Tracker for Serious Workouts See it at Amazon

Contributions by Kevin Lee

Detailed Reviews:

1. Fitbit Inspire 3: Best Budget Fitness Tracker

The Fitbit Inspire 3 proves that high-quality fitness tracking doesn't require a hefty price tag. For under $100, it boasts a bright AMOLED display, a comfortable and durable band suitable for sleep, and a 10-day battery life (reduced with the always-on display). Navigation is intuitive via touchscreen and haptic buttons. Features include 24/7 heart rate monitoring, step counting, SpO2 measurement, automatic exercise tracking, and sleep monitoring. Basic smartwatch functions like notifications and a find-my-phone feature are also included (Bluetooth required). Note that some advanced features may necessitate a subscription.

2. Xiaomi Smart Band 9: Best Ultra-Cheap Fitness Tracker

Priced under $50, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 offers impressive value. It features a 1.62-inch AMOLED display, a remarkable 21-day battery life, and over 150 sports modes. While tracking accuracy might not match high-end devices, it provides valuable workout insights (pedometer, heart rate monitor, SpO2, sleep monitoring). The bright display (1200 nits) ensures easy readability, even in sunlight. Limited smartwatch features include call and message notifications and music control. Note that phone pairing can be finicky.

3. Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro: Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS

An upgrade to the Smart Band 9, the Pro model features a larger 1.74-inch AMOLED display and a surprisingly accurate built-in GPS. It retains 24/7 heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and over 150 sports modes. While some modes offer limited data, the GPS significantly enhances workout tracking. Smartwatch features include music playback and notifications (no replies or NFC). It offers a stylish design, responsive screen, and long battery life for under $100.

4. Amazfit Band 7: Best Budget Fitness Tracker with Health Monitoring

The Amazfit Band 7 delivers exceptional value at around $50. It includes a large 1.47-inch always-on AMOLED display, an 18-day battery life (28 days in battery saver mode), and over 120 sports modes (smart recognition for four). Water resistance up to 50m makes it suitable for swimming. Health monitoring encompasses heart rate, blood oxygen, and stress, along with sleep tracking. Smartwatch functions include notifications and Amazon Alexa integration. Note the absence of built-in GPS.

5. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen): Best Budget Apple Watch

A more affordable Apple Watch option, the SE (2nd Gen) utilizes the same S8 SiP chipset as the Series 8, offering speedy performance. It features an optical heart rate sensor, built-in GPS, automatic workout detection (including swimming), and 32GB of storage for additional apps from the App Store. Full smartwatch capabilities include call answering, messaging, contactless payments, and music streaming. Crash detection is a valuable safety feature. Battery life is impressive by Apple Watch standards.

6. Garmin Venu 3: Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts

While the most expensive on this list, the Garmin Venu 3 justifies its price with comprehensive fitness tracking. It offers highly accurate GPS and heart rate monitoring, over 30 preloaded sports apps, animated workouts, and the insightful Body Battery feature for assessing energy levels. It also functions as a smartwatch with a bright AMOLED display, long battery life (up to 14 days, reduced with always-on display and automatic workout detection), and standard smartwatch features (calls, smart assistants, texts). App selection is more limited than Apple or Google smartwatches.

Choosing the Right Tracker:

Consider your needs. Ultra-cheap bands like the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 suffice for basic tracking. For runners and hikers, GPS is crucial. For comprehensive functionality beyond fitness, a smartwatch offers a larger screen, storage, apps, and communication features. Remember to consider hardware quality, comfort, software, and tracking accuracy when making your decision.